Embalming apparatus



(No Model.)

P. S. ENSWORTH.

EMBALMING APPARATUS.

No. 328,577. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

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" UNITED STATES PATENT rFicE.

PORTER S. ENSVVORTH, OF WATERFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

EMBALMING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,577; dated October 20, 1885.

Application filed May 12, 1884.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PORTER S. ENSWORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterford, in the county of Erie and State of I: Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Embalming Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in [O the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification. r My invention relates to improvements in cases for treating dead bodies to suspend decomposition and decay therein and devices for removing gases therefrom.

The objects of my invention are the improvement of the mechanism for removing gases from cases for treating dead bodies therewith and expelling the same from the apartment in which the operation is being performed.

The features of my invention will fully appear hereinafter in the specification and claim. I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a treatingcase for dead bodies embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a like elevation of a treatingcase for dead bodies embodying my improvement with portions broken away and parts in section, showing the construction of my improvement.

Similarletters refer to similar parts in both the figures.

In the construction of a treating-case embodying my improvement, A represents a flexible gastight cover, made of rubber or other gas-tight material,with an open bottonnaround which is attached a rim, B. The bottom of the case is substantially equal in size to the rim B. This bottom is constructed of wood, paper, or other material, so as to be impervious to the escape of the gas or other material used in preserving a body placed therein. This bottom 0 has upon it a bed, D, made of woven 50 cane, wire, or other material, which bed is Serial No. 131,228. (No model.)

placed ashort distance above the bottom 0, so

as to permit the gases used to circulate freely under and about all of the parts of a body resting thereon. The bottom 0 is preferably supported upon hinged legs E E, adapted to be folded up under the bottom 0 when the case is not in use.

Between the rim B of the cover A and the bottom 0, upon which it rests, may be placed any suitable packing, F, so that when in place and the two parts B and O clamped together upon the packing a gas-tight joint is formed thereby.

Through one end of the bottom 0 is made an opening, G, provided with a valve, G, on its upper side, opening upward. Under this opening, attached to the under side of the bottom 0 and communicating therewith, is a bellows,

H, of ordinary construction, adapted to force air into the case.

Thus far I have described a treating-case of similar construction to that described in the invention of Arthur S. Lovett, filed October 23, 1883. In operating that invention thus far described I have found great dilliculty in entirely removing the gases used from the case prior to its being opened and the body removed therefrom after treatment. To overcome this difiiculty I make through the bottom 0 of the case, at its opposite end, an opening, I, under and covering which I place a hinged valve, 1, opening downward. Under the opening I, and communicating therewith,

I attach to the bottom 0 a compound exhaustbellows, J, having a center piece therein, J, which divides the bellows into two compartments-an upper and lower. Through the section J, I make an opening, a, over which opening I place a valve, at, opening down-' ward. To the bottom of the bellows J, I at- 0 tach a hose, K, which may be of any suitable length required to conduct the gas away to any desired point. Upon the top of the section J of the bellows J, I place a cushi0n,J adapted, when the bellows is closed, to press against 5 the under side of the valve 1 and prevent any escape of air or gas from the inside of the case through the opening I. To retain this cushion J in that position the handle L of the bellows is provided with a hinged hook, L, there IOO being on the bottom 0 of the case a hook, I}, to receive the hook L and retain the bellows J in a closed position.

The operation of the bellows J is such that when closed the openingI is made completely air or gas tight, and when it is desired to remove the gases or air from the case the operation of the bellows J is to exhaust or suck the air or gases out of the case and force them away through the pipe K, so that when the case is opened to remove the body therefrom after treatment little or no gas remains therev in, fresh air having been supplied through I the bellows H and exhausted by means of the exhaust-bellows J, thereby completely removing all traces and smell of the gases therefrom, thus making the operation of treating a body and removing it from the case much more speedy and convenient than was possible by the means heretofore used.

I do not claim as my invention the flexible covered case or the bellows combined therewith for forcing air into said case, these matters having been fully described and claimed in the invention of Arthur S. Lovett heretofore referred to; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In combination with the opening I in the bottom 6 of a case for treating dead bodies, the valve I, the compound bellows J, provided with the cushion J 2 on the upper side of the division J of said bellows, the hooks L and L and the escapepipe K, all operating together substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 1

PORTER S. ENSWORTH. Witnesses:

H. M. STURGEON, SELDEN MARONI. 

